1/8The SEMA award-winning custom dualie--the brainchild of Jeff Carr of MBRP--was based off an '05 Dakota and sports a slew of custom and aftermarket parts.

Trucks have been popular in the world of custom autos since the first backyard mechanics began to tinker with their rides. Now, trucks have their own subculture with a passionate following. For MBRP Inc. Performance Exhaust's Jeff Carr, the perfect canvas for him to express himself was this '05 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab. He turned this run-of-the-mill pickup into a SEMA show-stopper.

In 2005 at SEMA, this custom pickup was the recipient of the Daimler Chrysler Design Excellence Award. You may have noticed something rather unique about this particular Dakota--it's a dualie. The custom fiberglass rear fenders and wheeltubs were made by Terry Delong of ProGlass in Indiana. Filling those massive wheelwells are a set of 19x7-inch Premier Series Brentz wheels wrapped in 255/50ZR19 Toyo Proxes tires. The enormous rear axle was sourced from an '04 GMC dualie and features 3.92 gears and 1-ton brakes. The midsize pickup is suspended by a modified Air Ride Shockwave system up front and a four-link Airbar system in the back. This allows the ride height to be dropped for an ultra-cool look at shows. The framerails were lengthened, and the fuel lines and wiring were extended to fit the longbed. All the chassis and suspension work was completed by Jay Prosch-Jenson of Ultimate Driveline in Shelbyville, Missouri.

2/8The custom, 'Cuda-style exhaust was made by MBRP and incorporated into the custom bumper from ProGlass.

To continue the custom appearance of the Dakota, the factory hood was replaced with a "shaker-style" hood and the roll pans were molded after the Plymouth 'Cuda, which were also made by Terry. The exterior was sprayed down with DuPont Hot Hues Neptunes Jewel paint. A custom white pearl was used, as well as a custom orange and yellow for the graphics area with ghost ram emblems in orange. All the paint was handled by Bracebridge Collision in Bracebridge, Ontario, and the pinstriping was performed by Ron Gibbs. Out back, flip up the lighted ARE LSX tonneau cover and you'll find the flatbed has been treated to wood by Bruce Horkey Wood and Parts. Completing the exterior is a polished billet grille from B-Cool Billet and a trick, polished-stainless, 'Cuda-style exhaust from MBRP Performance Exhaust.

The interior was given the same tasteful touch as the outside. Katzkin two-tone leather seats provide a comfortable seating area for the occupants. To dazzle onlookers, custom door panels were fitted and painted in the same blue hue as the exterior. The same idea was shared with the dash and the center console, giving the interior a clean, metallic feel. Odyssey Car Audio in Barrie, Ontario, filled the cabin with an assortment of Infinity speakers and subs. The custom wood-covered flatbed houses the subs, and they are ported into the cabin, filling it with a heart-stopping bass. The power is delivered by Infinity amplifiers and is controlled by an Alpine CD head unit with a 7-inch flip-down monitor.

The custom dualie Dakota was completed in time for SEMA 2005 and has gone on to garner more attention at other hot shows, thanks in no small part to MBRP and all their hard work. Jeff also enlisted Jason Hackenbrook and Dave Howard. He says, "These are the guys who really made this thing possible."

Jeff claims people will actually follow him until he pulls over just so they can ask about the truck. It's that sort of interest and positive reception that inspired Jeff and MBRP to build such a tasteful pickup. It makes us wonder why Dodge didn't try and build one since it works and looks so good.